CHANNEL 56: the history behind the blog name

From the wiki:
A brief history of Channel 56 from the 70's-80's-90's...

Channel 56 is the oldest UHF license in Boston

As a Kaiser Broadcasting owned station, channel 56's schedule consisted primarily of cartoons, off-network sitcoms, old movies and occasionally, network shows that were preempted by other local stations in case of emergencies. However, the station was willing to experiment with such projects as Universal Television's Operation Prime Time (although Paramount Television would contribute some programs as well) and syndicated reruns of National Geographic specials in prime time. Such common independent-station programming as a Saturday "Creature Double Feature" (following repeats of The Outer Limits) reached youthful and cult audiences. U.S. talk-show host Conan O'Brien has credited the station's rotation of classic musicals in its prime-time movie offering with encouraging him to consider a career as a performer.

For most of its tenure as an independent, channel 56 was well behind WSBK-TV (channel 38) in the ratings. Still, it was carried on most cable systems throughout New England.

In 1974, the Boston Globe sold its share in WKBG back to Kaiser. The call letters were then changed to the current WLVI-TV that May, and in 1977, Chicago-based Field Communications (which had owned 22.5 percent of Kaiser since 1972) purchased WLVI and the other Kaiser stations. In 1983, WLVI was sold to the Gannett Company as part of a liquidation of Field's television assets.

Under Gannett, WLVI continued its general entertainment format, which included children's programming from 6:00 to 11:00 a.m., as well as from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. under the WLVI Kids' Club banner. For the generation of New England children growing up during this period, "Uncle Dale" Dorman was the familiar personality fronting the Kids' Club, hosting the cartoons and appearing in hosted commercial segments.

Channel 56 was the last commercial station in the Boston market that continued to broadcast weekday children's programming until early 2006. It is now known as the CW 56.


<"Uncle Dale"

In the 1970s and 1980s, Dale Dorman the on-air announcer for children's programming and Creature Double Feature on WLVI-TV Channel 56 in Boston, calling himself "Uncle Dale."

Channel 56 KIDS PARADE!!

Channel 56 CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE: